Interpublic's Michael Roth

Michael Roth steered Interpublic Group out of near collapse. Now he faces another challenge: A possible takeover bid from Omnicom or Publicis.

Michael Roth is not your standard-issue Mad Man, but when it comes to drama, he has seen his share. A tax lawyer by training, he joined the board of advertising powerhouse Interpublic Group of Cos. in 2002, just in time to learn that some of the company's farflung agencies had been cooking their books. When he took the full reins in 2005, he was the third chief in four years. Soon after, Interpublic restated five years of financials, and big clients, like Bank of America and parts of General Motors, walked out the door.